Sunday, 3 May 2009

Britain's Ricky Hatton has lost his light-welterweight fight against Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The Filipino knocked-out the 30-year-old Manchester fighter in the second round.In the first round, Hatton, who had lost only once before in his career, was knocked down midway and then again towards the end.

Hatton made it through most of the second round before a left hand sent him sprawling.

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao knocked out Ricky Hatton with a left hook in the second round of their bout to grab the the IBO light welterweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

In the very first round Pacquiao sent the Brit down twice with stinging hooks, first with a left and then with a right.

The victory makes Pacquiao a six-time world champ in five weight divisions and kept him as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Before the fight, sports analysts Ed Picson and Ed Tolentino were one in saying that the Battle of the East and West would be a brutal fight, but Pacquiao’s speed might once again lead him to victory and cement his reputation as the world’s pound-for-pound king of boxing.

Martin Nievera, wearing a T-shirt designed by the late rapper Francis Magalona, broke tradition by being the first male to sing the Philippine National Anthem in a Pacquiao bout.

He was followed by pop icon Sir Tom Jones, who sang "God Save the Queen," the British National Anthem, and Fil-Am Jasmine Villegas, who sang the "Star-Spangled Banner," the US National Anthem.

The bout was witnessed by a star-studded audience that included Oscar de la Hoya, Jack Nicholson, and Mariah Carey.

MANILA, Philippines – A lot of people were surprised when New IBO light welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao defeated British Ricky Hatton in the second round of their much-awaited fight. This included Pacquiao himself.

“I didn’t expect that it’s going to be a short fight. He’s a hard puncher. He hit me hard," Pacquiao said in an interview minutes after his stunning victory by knockout.

The Filipino boxing champion sent Hatton down twice with hooks, first with a left and then with a right, during the first round. The Briton fell for the third time during the second round.

Pacquiao said he and his coach, Freddie Roach, studied the strategy against Hatton “and worked hard for that style." - Sophie Dedace, GMANews.TV

Bob Arum of Top Rank said that Pacquiao was getting better. But the boxing champion countered, “Don’t forget God.”

Arum said Pacquiao was the “greatest fighter that ever lived.”

Pacquiao, seen as the world pound-for-pound champion, won his 10th fight in a row, improving to 49-3 with two drawn with his 37th early stoppage. Hatton fell to 45-2, losing at junior welterweight for the first time in his career.

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